Going Gaga

The Sonoma Valley Museum of Art has a new installation in the LaHaye Gallery, and it is delicious. Many folks will recognize the art by its wonderful balance and rich aroma, created by the recognizable four-cup drip bar from the Santa Rosa Saturday farmers market, with the artist standing behind it every weekday.

"My preference is straight-up drip," says Gary Jimmerson of Gaga Cafe. (He swears there's no relation to the pop singer.) "But if it's an espresso drink, I like a cappuccino."

Along with the drinks, made with Santa Rosa's Ecco Caffè coffee beans, there's the atmosphere; tea kettles burst with flowers on Parisian-style sidewalk tables, and windows let in energizing sunlight to the 450-square-foot space just off the square to create a fitting ambiance for a museum of fine art.

Each drink is made to order, no air pots or warmers in sight. Jimmerson's pour-over coffee is fresher than regular drip and reveals the character of the coffee in a unique way. It's also for more than just museum patrons; the cafe opens to the street, and hosts rotating art installations.